I am happy to say that I have finally had surgery on my back, and am excitedly looking towards 2022.

I am aware that recovery can be slow, but in the meantime I can make plans for the things I have missed out on over the past 2 years. 

I hope that you will continue to pop onto this blog as I try out new things and return to the world of exploring 'What if?' 

LOOKING FORWARD - NOT BACK!

 As it heads towards 2021, like a lot of people I am hopeful of a kinder year for all.  

I am also looking forward to a more creative year.  Everything is in marked folders, plastic crates and filed.  I have a newer Laptop so am upgrading as I can afford it.  The first thing I bought was a newer Embroidery Program,  I have spent the last few days going through files, clearing out repeat files, cleaning out and filing under subjects, then types, then styles.

I also have a book next to each machine, to make notes, to write down ideas as I think of them regarding designs etc

I also ordered 2021 diaries. One for 'Dreamin of Lace' in which I need to write EVERYTHING down, so I got an A4 spiral size so I can stick things in easier.

The other is a daily one.  My memory is not good at the best of times and I am having more trouble, but have been tested.  And of course with all the things I am thinking of that I want to do next year, my head is spinning, so everything needs to be written down, so it is an A4 spiral so I can stick notes and pages to the relevant date etc.

My files and folders are sorted, named and are ready to be used, I have a complete book list of what I own, not only actual books, but also Kindle and downloaded books, and have a catalogue by subject.  

I am pretty sure I am ready for next year, and if I am lucky, I will be able to walk pain free sometime in the New Year as I am to have an injection in my back, which should make it easier to move around and hopefully mean I can drive again and the first places I am going is op-shopping, and Bunnings! 

I am looking forward to the New Year, and I wish everyone a safe, creative and fulfilling 2021

A New Start

I have, over the last few months, been focusing on clearing the clutter that has surrounded me. Being stuck at home for 15 months, not able to move around much, can do that. It gave me the time to think, to decide if what I was focusing on was important, or what was just clutter. It gave me time to plan, to work out kinks, and to get down to a workable plan.  

I have too many interests I am told, but giving them up was difficult.  So I now have files and folders with everything regarding each particular interest.  Pictures, ideas, downloads - no matter what it is it is in that folder.  I then decluttered each folder and kept what was relevant.  That way I can put it out of my mind, and in the future if I want something, think of something. or find something on that subject I can put it in that file and forget about it until I need it

I typed out a list of all the books I have, including those on Kindle.

I went through my computer, decluttered and refiled everything into the same topics as I had my files. 

Now, when I want something it is all in one place! It was a lot of work, and a lot of clutter, junk, copies etc were tossed out.

I also got a heap of boxes and went through everything.  Each box was labeled and now has the stash pertaining to that subject.

Another thing that all this time has given me was ideas regarding 'Dreamin of Lace Again'

I went through all my designs, put them into subject folders, with each folder having subfolders as to the type of design it was, ie Free Standing Lace, Embroidery etc. Now when I am sewing out designs, each Machine - and I have 4 -  has its own book, in which I write down what is being done.  Each design has its own index card, with Name, Colours, and any notes about whether the design sews out ok.

It has taken me months to complete this, but just knowing where everything is no matter whether it is physical or computer means I have more time to create. Next on my to do list is to write down the paints, inks, textile mediums etc that I have, and those which I would like to have. 

Like with the subjects I will have a 'Master List' with what I have, what I want, and what I have ordered, where it is, etc.

All this came about because my memory, never good at the best of times, just became cluttered, like the rest of my things.  

So now with everything set up the way it is, I can put my hand on exactly what I want.  So here's to a great 2021, and good things ahead

Destashing -  Or the 'Great cull!'

earlier this year i realised that I was spread too thin with all the things I wanted to do, and all the clutter around making it hard to focus. I had this mantra going around in my head - 

"I can do may things - but EVERYTHING!!! - isn't one of them!!!

So I decided to be harsh and only keep what really resonated with me, that I HAD to do.

My laces for selling and my own work

I took many hours/days as I really had a lot of crap.  

Just a small sample of all the beads I have

On the end wall are  some of the craft boxes with embellishments,
and the purple boxes have fabric in them 

Then I made a firm plan on what size works I was going to do, and made templates for them. 

Templates. Now I don't have to keep measuring, and can make them
into books.

I am going to make and sell a few clutch purses, and handbags. I have larger sizes and I need to cover them with clear contact to protect them

Now I am making a lot of bases, setting up work and designs etc

Some of the small bases I will be using for
 'Creative Embroidery' etc

For lace applique and embroidery

Larger bases for meditative stitching and embroidery

Bases for Crazy Quilting samples 

So with winter roughly half way through, I can snuggle up, turn on my audio books and just relax and embroider and/or embellish to my hearts content, knowing that I will at least know what I have - WHEN I ACTUALLY REMEMBER WHERE I PUT IT!!!!

Oh well....

THINGS ARE GETTING DONE... EVEN IF IT IS SLOWLY

While I haven't posted for a bit, I have been busy. I have to work around my back and shoulder, and sometimes they just won't co-operate!

On these days I read, look through my downloaded picture gallery and work out how to do something. I have also been tidying up pieces of paper lying around everywhere. I write notes and they are all over the place.

Now I have books that have specific roles. ie, Gardening, where I put all the notes, handouts, research etc.

Also practicing drawing again. I have heaps of art books lying around and have been trying to consolidate them into one or two books. This of course means I have to stick them in or redraw the work. It usually depends on if I have drawn out a 'scene' or something for a textile art project, Art Quilt or embroidery. If I don't really like it then I redraw it. 

 Practicing small designs to embroider

Different scenes for either Art Quilts, Textile art projects or embroidery

Also my shelves are up in the lounge so I have better access to everything. I still need to put labels on the cane baskets but everything has to be gone through first.

I have also made templates for drawing zentangles etc. And am using the pieces cut out of the center as templates for different Fabric Mosaics I want to do

Each day I try to get at least one small task done if I am not having a good day, and then when I am having a good day I focus on the larger tasks, having breaks in between.  

I have also been spending some time using the embroidery machines, but find that I can't do a full day without being in a lot of pain, but I have been sorting the ones already done and have many ideas for their use, 

So now that winter is nearly here it is time to snuggle up and start hand sewing, drawing and planning for the warmer weather

ROUTINES and ORGANIZATION

I hate routines, I really do. But one thing I have learnt over the years is that if I want to achieve anything, I have to follow one. Even if it is a rough one.

2018 started out ok, but things piled on top of each other, I couldn't get myself organised. I had all these things I wanted to do, but because I wasn't organised, didn't focus, didn't have a routine, I didn't achieve as much as I wanted to and I got overwhelmed with family and health problems.

Towards the end of last year things started to settle down and I realized that I was just too unorganized to achieve what I wanted.

So I got my garden redesigned, and mostly finished, having to stop after hurting my back - again. Then I got onto my computer, organizing and resizing embroidery files, not just for me but for selling laces. 

I made a list of things I wanted to do, found designs, chose sizes for different projects and then wrote it out in a rough plan. 

I then went through different ideas and projects I wanted to do and chose what size to do them.  I have no idea why but choosing what size to do a project seems to be a real stumbling block. Now I just look at what it is I want to do and I decide what size would look good.

I now have 'Postcard', A5, Fabric Book, Scrapbook, and My 'Coffee Table Book' as sizes to work on. And these will all be made into Fabric Books.

I also have a set size for the other projects I am involved in. TAST (Take a Stitch Tuesday/ and Beyond), Joyful Embellishing, Kathy Shaw's Crazy Quilt Embellishing. Now I have fabric pages set up and ready to sew out and I don't have to worry about what size.

Such a small thing, but it really makes a difference.

 The front cover of my 'Coffee Table Book'

 Using my own 'rusted fabric' for the cover of my fabric book 'Postcards from Down Under' which just needs to be embroidered and stitched together. Below is the 'Postcard' that will be on the bottom of the 'page'

 This was the inspiration for my 'Postcards' fabric book, the buttons on the right are in the form of the Southern Cross. 

 And below are two of my 'Under The Sea' (UTS) pieces

Using 'Washaway' as part of my creating

 I put some washaway on a small frame and simple drew a grid across.

I did running stitch around the outside and along the straight lines, and did a long blanket stitch up to the line, and a knot type blanket stitch at the bottom to hold it firm after washing. 

This is how it turned out.